Consumer Reports is the 800-pound gorilla in the proverbial undersized playground sandbox of the automotive industry, and more often than not, what its staff says has the same gravitas as Moses on the rock. If they don’t like a car, chances are that it’s breaking news from the fastidiously obsessive reporters and enough to send PR flacks into DEFCON 1 and scrambling for their bourbon and press releases. “Just because a car generates a lot of buzz,” says the magazine, “or is a best seller, doesn’t mean that it’s a good choice for you.” Well, Consumer Reports has just released its annual “Five Popular Cars To Avoid” list—and we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Honda, Toyota, Jeep, Ford and Dodge have been anointed with the kiss of death.
Consumer Reports raised controversy a few years ago when the Honda Civic fell out of favor. Well, to rub more salt in the wound, the Civic is still terrible: “Honda took too many shortcuts” in the current iteration. Expect a new Civic to debut as soon as next year, with Honda hopefully finding its way back into the good graces of the magazine.
The Toyota Prius C may be cheap and popular, but that first problem is what seals it with Consumer Reports. In fact, a non-hybrid, says the magazine, would be a better bet: they cite the Honda Fit extensively.
And the rest on the list? They are all American, ranging from SUVs to minivans and in between: the Jeep Liberty, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ford Edge all make the ignominious list. Of the three, the Grand Caravan is aging rapidly, and the Liberty has been the auto pundit’s punching bag ever since it debuted. Only the Ford Edge is a relatively new vehicle—and cited by CR for its infuriating MyFord Touch, and less-than-stellar reliability. Of all the cars Consumer Reports listed, it lambasted most for having choppy rides, poor mileage (in comparison), and reliability issues.
Are there worse cars in America? Sound off in the comments below.
Source: Consumer Reports
